Free boxing clinic offered to youth

Aim is to promote discipline, success

SOUTH COUNTY  Three men whose lives have been affected by boxing are putting on a free boxing clinic for youth on Saturday.

The clinic, held at The House of Boxing Training Center in Paradise Hills, got its start two years ago and has roots in National City.

Carlos Barragan, former executive director of Community Youth Athletic Center in National City, decided to help his son open The House of Boxing to help at-risk youth and raise awareness about issues that impact youth in the community.

The event is a collaboration of the John Bray Boxing Foundation and The House of Boxing Training Center.

The foundation was formed in 2008 in San Fernando to promote discipline, academic and athletic success among school-age children.

Jerry Gonzalez started the Foundation with Bray in 2008 and ran into Barragan last May at a fight in Las Vegas and agreed to organize the 4th annual free youth boxing clinic.

Gonzalez grew up in the Paradise Hills area of San Diego.

“We’re reaching out to kids in National City and Paradise Hills to bridge the gap,” Gonzalez said.

Since January, Toby Posada, 11, has trained at the center five days a week.

“I like that the people that work here treat you like family,” Toby said.

Toby’s mom, Monique, said her family was driving by one day and decided to check it out. She said boxing has helped her son become more disciplined, self-confident and outgoing.

“The trainers do a lot for the community and keep the kids out of trouble,” she said.

Bray, president of John Bray Boxing Foundation, was introduced to boxing at age 9 by his next door neighbors.

By age 16, he was sparring with world champions. He turned professional in 1992 and eventually won seven national titles. Bray said boxing completely changed his personality from who he was as a kid.

“In the neighborhood I grew up in, I felt like an outcast and in school I felt the same way,” he said. “I got picked on a lot. I had to be tough I had to learn how to fight to defend myself.”

Bray said it increased his confidence and self-worth.

“I almost felt like I had no safe haven except in the boxing gym,” he said. “It was a different world for me. I wasn’t ostracized. I was accepted and loved.”

But the attention proved too much for Bray and he began a wayward lifestyle.

“It was too much too soon and I didn’t know how to handle it,” he said.

At 23, he had a stroke.

“I think it was divine intervention,” he said. “If that didn’t happen, I was going to kill myself.”

When Bray returned to boxing, he vowed to establish his own gym to provide kids with a safe haven off the streets.

Today, Bray passes on his love for boxing by helping children use it as a tool.

“I’m no longer a fighter, now I’m a teacher,” he said. “When I take on a kid, I’m going to do the best job that I can.”